ADDRESS. Charles A. Lindbergh. New York, April 23,1941

Transcription

1 ADDRESS Charles A. Lindbergh * New York, April 23,1941

2 This address was delivered at 'an America First Committee meeting in New York City on April 23, 194L J.HERE are many viewpoints from which the issues of this war can be argued. Some are primarily idealistic. Some are primarily practical. One should, I believe, strive for a balance of both. But, since the subjects that can be covered in a single address are limited, tonight I shall discuss the war from a viewpoint which is primarily practical. It is not that I believe ideals are unimportant, even among the realities of war; but if a nation is to survive in a hostile world, its ideals must be backed by the hard logic of military practicability. If the outcome of war depended upon ideals alone, this would be a different world than it is today.

3 1 KNOW I will be severely criticized by the interventionists in America when I say we should not enter a war unless we have a reasonable chance of winning. That, they will claim, is far too materialistic a viewpoint. They will advance again the same arguments that were used to persuade France to declare war against Germany in But I do not believe that our American ideals, and our way of life, will gain through an unsuccessful war. And I know that the United States is not prepared to wage war in Europe successfully at this time. We are no better prepared today than France was when the interventionists in Europe persuaded her to attack the Siegfried Line. I HAVE said before, and I will say again, that I believe it will be a tragedy to the entire world if the British Empire collapses. That is one of the main reasons why I opposed this war before it was declared, and why I have constantly advocated a negotiated peace. I did not feel that England and France had a reasonable chance of winning. France has now been defeated; and, despite the propaganda and confusion of recent months, it is now obvious that England is losing the war. I believe this is realized even by the British government. But they have one last desperate plan remaining. They hope that they may be able to persuade us to send another American Expeditionary Force to Europe, and to share with England militarily, as well as financially, the fiasco of this war. X DO not blame England^ for this hope, or for asking for our assistance. But we now know that she declared a war under circumstances which led to the defeat of every nation that sided with her from Poland to Greece. We know that in the desperation of war England promised to all these nations armed assistance that she could not send. We know that she misinformed them, as she has misinformed us, concerning her state of preparation, her military strength, arid the progress of the war. I,LN TIME of war, truth is always replaced by propaganda. I do not believe we should be too quick to criticize the actions of a belligerent nation. There is always the question whether we, ourselves, would do better under similar circumstances. But we in this country have a right to think of the welfare of America first, just as the people in England thought first of their own country when they encouraged the

4 smaller nations of Europe to fight against hopeless odds. When England asks us to enter this war, she is considering her own future, and that of her Empire. In making our reply, I believe we should consider the future of the United States and that of the Western Hemisphere. LT IS not only our right, but it is our obligation as American citizens to look at this war objectively, and to weigh our chances for success if we should enter it. I have attempted to do this, especially from the standpoint of aviation; and I have been forced to the conclusion that we cannot win this war for England, regardless of how much assistance we extend. M. ASK you to look at the map of Europe today and see if you can suggest any way in which we could win this war if we entered it. Suppose we had a large army in America, trained and equipped. Where would we send it to fight? The campaigns of the war show only too clearly how difficult it is to force a landing, or to maintain an army, on a hostile coast. Suppose we took our navy from the Pacific, and used it to convoy British shipping. That would not win the war for England. It would, at best, permit her to exist under the constant bombing of the German air fleet. Suppose we had an air force that we could send to Europe. Where could it operate? Some of our squadrons might be based in the British Isles; but it is physically impossible to base enough aircraft in the British Isles alone to equal in strength the aircraft that can be based on the continent of Europe. I.HAVE asked these questions on the supposition that we had in existence an army and an air force large enough and well enough equipped to send to Europe; and that we would dare to remove our navy from the Pacific. Even on this basis, I do not see how we could invade the continent of Europe successfully as long as all of that continent and most of Asia is under Axis domination. But the fact is that none of these suppositions are correct. We have only a one-ocean navy. Our army is still untrained and inadequately equipped for foreign war. Our air force is deplorably lacking in modern fighting planes. 'HEN these facts are cited, the interventionists shout that we are defeatists, that we are undermining the prin-

5 ciples of Democracy, and that we are giving comfort to Germany by- talking about our military weakness. But everything I mention here has been published in our newspapers, and in the reports of congressional hearings in Washington. Our military position is well known to the governments of Europe and Asia. Why, then, should it not be brought to the attention of our own people? I. SAY it is the interventionist in America, as it was in England and in France, who gives comfort to the enemy. I say it is they who are undermining the principles of Democracy when they demand that we take a course to which more than eighty percent of our citizens are opposed. I charge them with being the real defeatists, for their policy has led to the defeat of every country that followed their advice since this war began. There is no better way to give comfort to an enemy than to divide the people of a nation over the issue of foreign war. There is no shorter road to defeat than by entering a war with inadequate preparation. Every nation that has adopted the interventionist policy of depending on some one else for its own defense has met with nothing but defeat and failure. HEN history is written, the responsibility for the downfall of the democracies of Europe will rest squarely upon the shoulders of the interventionists who led their nations into war uninformed and unprepared. With their shouts of defeatism, and their disdain of reality, they have already sent countless thousands of young men to death in Europe. From the campaign of Poland to that of Greece, their prophecies have been false and their policies have failed. Yet these are the people who are calling us defeatists in America today. And they have led this country, too, to the verge of war. A HERE are many such interventionists in America, but there are more people among us of a different type. That is why you and I are assembled here tonight. There is a policy open to this nation that will lead to success a policy that leaves us free to follow our own way of life, and to develop our own civilization. It is not a new and untried idea. It was advocated by Washington. It was incorporated in the Monroe Doctrine. Under its guidance, the United States became the greatest nation in the world. It is based upon the belief that the security of a nation lies in the strength

6 and character of its own people. It recommends the maintenance of armed forces sufficient to defend this hemisphere from attack by any combination of foreign powers. It demands faith in an independent American destiny. This is the policy of the America First Committee today. It is a policy not of isolation, but of independence; not of defeat, but of courage. It is a policy that led this nation to success during the most trying years of our history, and it is a policy that will lead us to success again. WEE HAVE weakened ourselves for many months, and still worse, we have divided our own people by this dabbling in Europe's wars. While we should have been concentrating on American defense, we have been forced to argue over foreign quarrels. We must turn our eyes and our faith back to our own country before it is too late. And when we do this, a different vista opens before us. Practically every difficulty we would face in invading Europe becomes an asset to us in defending America. Our enemy, and not we, would then have the problem of transporting millions of troops across the ocean and landing them on a hostile shore. They, and not we, would have to furnish the convoys to transport guns and trucks and 10 munitions and fuel across three thousand miles of water. OUT battleships and submarines would then be fighting close to their home bases. We would then do the bombing from the air, and the torpedoing at sea. And if any part of an enemy convoy should ever pass our navy and our air force, they would still be faced with the guns of our coast artillery, and behind them, the divisions of our army. -I HE United States is better situated from a military standpoint than any other nation in the world. Even in our present condition of unpreparedness, no foreign power is in a position to invade us today. If we concentrate on our own defenses, and build the strength that this nation should maintain, no foreign army will ever attempt to land on American shores. 'AR is not inevitable for this country. Such a claim is defeatism in the true sense. No one can make us fight abroad unless we ourselves are willing to do so. No one will attempt to fight us here if we arm ourselves as a great nation should be armed. Over a hundred million people in this nation are opposed to entering the war. If the principles of Democracy mean 11

7 anything at all, that is reason enough for us to stay out. Jf we are forced into a war against the wishes of an overwhelming majority of our people, we will have proved Democracy such a failure at home that there will be little use fighting for it abroad. A HE time has come when those of us who believe in an independent American destiny must band together, and organize for strength. We have been led toward war by a minority of our people. This minority has power. It has influence. It has a loud voice. But it does not represent the American people. During the last several years, I have travelled over this country, from one end to the other. I have talked to many hundreds of men and women, and I have had letters from tens of thousands more, who feel the same way as you and I. Most of these people have no influence or power. Most of them have no means of expressing their convictions, except by their vote which has always been against this war. They are the citizens who have had to work too hard at their daily jobs to organize political meetings. Hitherto, they have relied upon their vote to express their feelings; but now they find that it is hardly remembered except in the oratory of a political campaign. These 12 people the majority of hard-working American citizens aje with us. They axe the true strength of our country. And they are beginning to realize, as you and I, that there are times when we must sacrifice our normal interests in life in order to insure the safety and the welfare of our nation. a time has come. Such a crisis is here. That is why the America First Committee has been formed to give voice to the people who have no newspaper, or news reel, or radio station at their command; to the people who must do the paying, and the fighting, and the dying, if this country enters the war. HETHER or not we do enter the war, rests upon the shoulders of you in this audience, upon us here on this platform, upon meetings of this kind that are being held by Americans in every section of the United States today. It depends upon the action we take, and the courage we show at this time. If you believe in an independent destiny for America, if you believe that this country should not enter the war in Europe, we ask you to join the America First Committee in its stand. We ask you to share our faith in the ability of this na- 13

8 tion to defend itself, to develop its own civilization, and to contribute to the progress of mankind in a more constructive and intelligent way than has yet been found by the warring nations of Europe. We need your support, and we need it now. The time to act is here. 91 F RST Bost n St., Boston America First Committee, 141 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois. 14

Islam and Terrorism Nov. 28, 2016 Clarity in defining the enemy is essential to waging war. Originally produced on Nov. 21, 2016 for Mauldin Economics, LLC George Friedman The United States has been at

LETTER TO SIR EDWARD GREY Letter regarding World War I addressed to the British Foreign Secretary January 22, 1915 To me the crux of the situation has been Belgium. If England or France had acted toward

The New Republic Unit Test Form A MULTIPLE CHOICE For each of the following, write the letter of the best choice in the space provided. 1. What happened during the Bear Flag Revolt? a. A union of Spanish

Chapter 8 From Colony to Territory to State Standard 2 Key Events, Ideas and People: Students analyze how the contributions of key events, ideas, and people influenced the development of modern Louisiana.

This should be read in every High School, and posted on the "Must Read" bulletin board of every business in this Country. While we still have one. This is an EXCELLENT essay. Well thought out and presented.

This resource supports the Causes PowerPoint The Causes of The English Civil War Clash Arrogant Traditional Remonstrance Parliament Duties MP Divine Right Causes of The English Civil War : key words. Discover:

ANOTHER VIEWPOINT (AVP_NS84 January 2003) GEORGE BUSH TO SADDAM HUSSEIN: DO AS WE SAY, NOT AS WE DO! Elias H. Tuma That is the message of President Bush to President Saddam Hussein, for what is permissible

Civic Participation (Persuasion) Middle School This unit is designed to promote civic involvement within the political process. The unit can be utilized to make students aware of the manner in which political

Death and Forced Exile of Ottoman Muslims in the 1912-1913 Balkan Wars I n Spring of 1912, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Montenegro agreed to invade the Ottoman Empire and to drive the Ottomans from Europe.

Lesson Procedures Materials Included in this Lesson Background Essay Document Set Evidence Organizer Answering the Question assessment and rubric Access to the net for the video clip links in this lesson.

Sir Walter Raleigh (1552 1618) ANOTHER famous Englishman who lived in the days of Queen Elizabeth was Sir Walter Raleigh. He was a soldier and statesman, a poet and historian but the most interesting fact

AP WORLD HISTORY SUMMER READING GUIDE To My 2014-2015 AP World History Students, In the field of history as traditionally taught in the United States, the term World History has often applied to history

Search and Seizure 4: Letters Will Folger For this Search and Seizure assignment I read through letters from servicemen during World War II who were previously students at Humboldt State University, then

England 1066-1485 By: Bruce, Deon, Anthony, and Zach Social Structure Social and Economic Factors 12th and 13th centuries saw growth 1.5 to about 5 million people Primarily agricultural, later mining Serfs

THE FINAL TOAST! They bombed Tokyo 73 years ago. They once were among the most universally admired and revered men in the United States.. There were 80 of the Raiders in April 1942, when they carried out

Chapter 9, Section 2 The Fall of Rome (Pages 317 326) Setting a Purpose for Reading Think about these questions as you read: Why was the Roman Empire weakened? How would our world be different today if

2015 IFCA International Statement on Biblical vs. Same-Sex Marriage The members and churches of the IFCA International maintain their historical commitment to God s Word, the Bible as the final and supreme

I. Introduction to Esther Esther A. The purpose of this book is to demonstrate the providence of God 1. Providence from the Latin videre ; means to see before. Speaks of God s divine intervention in the

Yalta Conference In February 1945 Franklin Roosevelt of the USA, Joseph Stalin of the USSR and Winston Churchill met at Yalta in the Soviet Union. The war in Europe was nearing its end and decisions had

4 May 2014 Last updated at 23:35 Dien Bien Phu: Did the US offer France an A-bomb? Sixty years ago this week, French troops were defeated by Vietnamese forces at Dien Bien Phu. As historian Julian Jackson

Primary Sources: The Black Death, 1348 By Henry Knighton, adapted by Newsela staff on 03.30.17 Word Count 1,097 A miniature from a 14th century Belgium manuscript showing people burying the dead from the

CRISIS AND REFORMS After death of Marcus Aurelius (the end of the Pax Romana) the empire was rocked by political and economic turmoil for 100 years Emperors were overthrown regularly by political intrigue

The Early Middle Ages What s the Connection? After the fall of came a period called the Middle Ages, or medieval times. It is a fitting name for the period that lies between ancient and modern times. Focusing

Curriculum The Rescuer will come: prophecies from Isaiah 9, 11, 40, 50, 53, 55, 60 Please see the curriculum Introduction.pdf for more guidance on praying with your group and on Scripture memory. The total

Peace without Victory January 22, 1917 Gentlemen of the Senate, On the 18th of December last I addressed an identic note to the governments of the nations now at war requesting them to state, more definitely

Gettysburg: Changing A Nation The Circumstances as the Summer of 1863 Arrives In the East, Rebel forces under General Robert E. Lee invaded the Northern State of Pennsylvania Little Round Top Gettysburg

What A Union army, consisting of 28,000 men fought 33,000 Confederates. 1 st battle of the Civil War. When July 21, 1861 Where Bull Run Creek, Manassas VA Significance The battle proved that this was not

THE ORGANISATION OF COLLECTIVE SELF-DEFENCE 58 13. Address by Adolf Hitler 1 SEPTEMBER 1939 (Address by Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of the Reich, before the Reichstag, September 1, 1939) For months we have

Published on STRATFOR (http://www.stratfor.com) Home > The U.S. Withdrawal and Limited Options in Iraq The U.S. Withdrawal and Limited Options in Iraq Created Aug 17 2010-03:56 [1] Not Limited Open Access

BISHOP GEORGE D. CUMMINS, D.D. First Bishop and Founder OF THE REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH ON Ecclesiastical Vestments Written and Compiled by his Wife Mrs. A. M. CUMMINS CORRESPONDENCE. 1317 N. BROAD STREET

The Guidon General Alfred Pleasonton Camp 24 Chartered 30 August 1999 Department of California and Pacific Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War February Issue 2015 Meeting Next Wednesday February 18th,

Scanlon on Double Effect RALPH WEDGWOOD Merton College, University of Oxford In this new book Moral Dimensions, T. M. Scanlon (2008) explores the ethical significance of the intentions and motives with

Christian Warfare The Breastplate Of Righteousness Ephesians 6:13-17 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand

1 Introduction On March 17, 1776, George Washington stood on Dorchester Heights alongside fifty-nine captured cannon high above the city of Boston, Massachusetts, and watched as British troops peacefully

Religious Freedom: Our First Freedom Adult Formation Class June 22, 2014 Legal Do s and Don ts Churches and other 501(c)(3) organizations have legal limits as to what they can and cannot do regarding elections.

Extracts from an Interview Friedrich von Hayek "El Mercurio" (p. D8-D9), 12 April 1981, Santiago de Chile Reagan said: "Let us begin an era of National Renewal." How do you understand that this will be

A ROBE, A RING, AND SHOES; Part 1 Luke 15: 11-24 Father, I have sinned The story of the Prodigal Son is well known that it has become of part of our own folklore. It is not at all unusual to hear someone

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Rome became so big that it was difficult for Rome to handle all of the issues of Rome There was a split in the Empire: East and West Late Emperors Over the 3 rd

Section 1 Revolution Threatens the French King A. Perceiving Cause and Effect As you read about the dawn of revolution in France, write notes to answer questions about the causes of the French Revolution.

100th Anniversary 14 Squadron 1915-2015 Station Church 10am, 8th Feb Kevin Hart, Rev (Wg Cdr) Senior Chaplain A History of the Squadron No. 14 Squadron formed at Shoreham on 3 February 1915 from a nucleus

William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" Speech July 9, 1896, at the Democratic National Convention, Chicago Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Convention: I would be presumptuous, indeed, to present myself

Lamentations Introduction Introduction Sometimes we just need to grieve. Grief is the natural response that all of us have to loss. The bigger the loss, the bigger our need to grieve. Introduction Some

Renewing America Renewing America Excerpt from President Bill Clinton s First Inaugural Address (1993) When George Washington first took the oath I have just sworn to uphold, news traveled slowly across

A Grand Beginning: Speech at the Formation of the ARU Local at Terre Haute, Jan. 10, 1894 [excerpt] by Eugene V. Debs Published as Started Grandly in The Railway Times, vol. 1, no. 2 (Jan. 15, 1894), pg.

The Thirty Years War 1618-1648 The Thirty Years War is complex. But the main conflict was between the different states who had religious differences. It was a war over Catholic-Protestant Issues And it

APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and

72 LESSON 72 Atheists Questions, Part 1 I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. C. S. LEWIS Kirk s Comment Read

Lessons for S pore on the rise and fall of empires When Singapore became independent in August 1965, it was an accidental nation, unplanned in its creation and unexpected in its survival, said former top

Chapter 12 Democracy in the Age of Jackson (1824-1840) (American Nation Textbook Pages 358-375) 1 1. A New Era in Politics The spirit of Democracy, which was changing the political system, affected American

The Punic Wars The Punic Wars 264-146 BCE Punic comes from the Latin word for Three conflicts fought between Rome and Carthage First Punic War 264-241 BCE Fought over Second Punic War 218-201 BCE Fought

Matthew 27-11-26 What to do with Jesus? Sermon introduction: On Friday January 20 th at noon Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45 th president of the United States. He will take the oath of office by

REJOICING IN THE LORD - PART 2 Rejoicing in the midst of adversity Dr. Derek Morris Preaching passage: Philippians 1:12-21 Subject: Why Paul rejoices in the midst of his adversity Complement: because God

DBQ: The 1970 s, a Decade of Change From 'Malaise' to 'Morning in America' QUESTION: How and why did American politics shift from liberal dominance to conservatism from the 1970 s to the 1980 s? Document

GREAT by Parrish Turner Copyright 2017 PARRISH TURNER TIME Sometime in the future PLACE The Great Pyramids of Giza CHARACTERS : a traveler SCENE The man walks on and slumps off his huge bag. He stretches

Theology, Philosophy, and Religious Studies Your community, your University 2 Sunday Times and Times University Guide 2014 The department We are committed to helping you to fulfil your potential so that

Article XVI. Peace and War It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power